The PM Modi headed cabinet committee on economic affairs approved the proposal to develop phase-1 of Greenfield airport at Dholera, 80 km from Ahmedabad at an estimated cost of £130.5 million by June 2024. Under the PM Gati Shakti programme, the airport will get multi modal connectivity through a six-lane expressway, rapid transport system, broad gauge railway line and a dedicated freight corridor.
Union I&B minister Anurag Singh Thakur said the project has got environmental and security clearance. The defence and home ministries have also given their nod to the airport that will come up in 1,501 hectares. In the first phase that will be ready in 48 months, the airport will handle 300,000 passengers and 20,000 tonnes cargo annually. There is adequate land for expansion under second and third phases as well as increasing runway length.
Forty per cent of phase one cost will be met via equity and balance through debt. This project will be executed by Dholera International Airport Company Ltd, a JV of Airports Authority of India that will have stake of 51% in it and the government of Gujarat will have 33% stake and National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust will have remaining stake of 16%.
Dholera Airport is to get passenger and cargo traffic from Dholera Special Investment Region and is expected to become a major cargo hub to serve this industrial belt.
